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Ordering '1st day release' sets from Lego.com, then discovering them 27% cheaper on Amazon

SparkyHamSparkyHam Member Posts: 141
in Buying & Selling Topics
Like many others here, I was excited about the two new Batman sets (76110 and 76111) that were released in the U.K. on August 1st, and promptly ordered them online that very day.

Imagine my surprise then, to see them on Amazon.uk, yesterday (Aug 3rd), reduced by 27% each.

I appreciate that Lego products are cheaper elsewhere (not a problem), but I am surprised that this has happened within just 3 days of the sets being released in the UK. Is this a common occurrence?

I certainly don't mind paying full-price from the Lego Store for brand new sets, particularly as I am paying for the privilege of getting the sets early, and I want to support Lego (yay!). But seeing this significant discount within just 3 days has removed all the joy of '1st day purchase', and quite honestly, leaves me feeling let down as a LEGO VIP member. To rub salt into the wound, I am still waiting for my orders to arrive in the post, but if I order from Amazon today, they will arrive by Prime tomorrow, 27% cheaper! 

Just to clarify, I am not bitter about paying full retail price for Lego, my issue is with the 3rd party price-drop happening within such close proximity to the actual release of the sets from Lego. I also acknowledge that this is out of Lego's control, but wanted to ask about here anyway

Thoughts on this? Is it worth complaining/returning-the-sets to Lego?
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Comments

  • AstrobricksAstrobricks Member Posts: 5,564
    edited August 2018
    Is it a third party marketplace seller on amazon? If it’s Amazon themselves, I’d think TLG might get a little upset about discounts appearing so soon. 
    For me, if there isn’t some kind of incentive like double VIP or a GWP, I just wait for that or a discount somewhere.

    I’ve never returned anything to LEGO, but I don’t see why that wouldn’t be possible. If you have a LEGO store nearby, I’d try returning there.
    gmonkey76
  • Mr_CrossMr_Cross Member Posts: 1,713
    It's because Argos has a 3for2 running that has coincided with the new releases and amazon are competing on a lot of those new sets... I wish I'd had enough money to take advantage of the offers available. 
    AstrobricksstluxShibsnowhitiedrdavewatfordgmonkey76kiki180703
  • milambermilamber Member Posts: 637
    edited August 2018
    Lego Store's return policy seems straightforward. If the price difference is significant enough then simply return them. I wouldn't treat Lego Store purchases any different to any other purchase. If something is cheaper elsewhere after it's been ordered then return it and buy it from somewhere else. Paying full rrp or buying at a discount you are still 'supporting Lego'. It will be Amazon taking the cut in profit, not Lego.

    I was also surprised to see the discounts so soon after the releases, though I was looking at buying the Harry Potter sets. It simply coincided with the Argos 3 for 2 as others have said and Amazon went some way to price match, though not on all sets by any means.

    The reductions were/are 33% on Argos for sets of equal cost so it might be worth checking them out too. Hogwarts Great Hall worked out at £59.39


  • BrainsluggedBrainslugged Member Posts: 2,278
    You've gotta be aware that sooner or later the price will drop. Hopefully VIP points, a well-timed Lego store freebie and getting the set asap generally makes up for any future potential discounts. Living close to a Lego store, I also benefit from having instant gratification rather than waiting even a day for Amazon. I feel your pain though.

    I went through this with the recent Solo tie-fighter. Massively overpriced, but I just really wanted it right now. I figured when the price inevitably dropped (I.e. this weekend with 3 for 2) I could pick up a second one.
    Shibgmonkey76madforLEGOkiki180703SparkyHam
  • snowhitiesnowhitie Member Posts: 3,078
    Like others said, the coincedence of the 3for2 Argos sales caused some prices to drop. I am usually not a day one buyer, but did get the HP sets (not all from lego). Then on Friday, the Aragog set was only a tenner. However, the hall didn't see that discount. I don't live in the UK so couldn't pick one up there and I know of people who tried to get hall or train and not managing to get it at all seeing as there were none in stock near them. And Argos might have not included new SW, new Batman, HP, ... but they did.

    I do understand it's annyoing you are still waiting for your set though and if you want to go through the return process you always have that option.

    However, I do think this was a coincidence and that it's on the whole important to buy something at the price that is right for you. It might drop further, it might be sold out. If you buy it at what your budget stretches too I would try to ignore further price drops afterwards. But I totally get that in this instance it was a bit of a sore feeling.
    SparkyHam
  • ryjayryjay Member Posts: 1,004
    edited August 2018
    The LFT!  :)  The Lego Fanatic Tax, it is especially hard hitting to those day 1 "gotta haves"

  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,556
    Discounts are good. Earlier the better!
    MAGNINOMINISUMBRAsid3windr
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,836
    Also, IMO if you buy LEGO from any store (not just LEGO.com) you are supporting LEGO. It is when you start buying knockoffs that you are hurting LEGO.
    Bumblepantsgmonkey76
  • PaperballparkPaperballpark Member Posts: 4,270
    I never, ever, buy a set on the first day of release. Indeed, it's rare that I buy a set direct from Lego itself.

    Most of the time, normal sets (i.e. not exclusives/D2Cs) will appear on Amazon or at Argos, and then it's only a matter of time before they're discounted to some extent.

    But then, I've always been able to wait for something if I think there's a good chance of getting a better deal later.

    As for supporting Lego, you are anyway, because it's Amazon/Argos who will take the hit on their profit by selling the sets at a reduced price. The price they buy the sets from Lego at won't change depending on how much they sell them to you at :)
    CCCstluxpharmjodmadforLEGOMynattBaby_YodaShibdmcc0
  • bmwlegobmwlego Member Posts: 820
    I do my best to avoid paying full retail on anything, especially for anything related to my hobby. 

    That being said, I was first in line to buy Voltron 2 weeks ago, at full RRP.

    I'd return the sets to LEGO without hesitation. Money is money. Don't complain but if asked be honest. LBR sells almost everything at RRP and a deal there is hard to find (not counting the free with purchase goodies that are sometimes appealing and worth it).
  • SparkyHamSparkyHam Member Posts: 141
    Really appreciate the thoughts - glad its not me just over-thinking things. 

    I've ended up keeping the cheaper of the two sets, to start building an army of 'talons', and returning the more expensive one.

    It is pretty amazing though, how large discounts can become on Amazon!
  • Mr_HobblesMr_Hobbles Member Posts: 321
    I struggle with this too - I've settled on waiting for Amazon sales for most normal sets (City, Star Wars, etc), and getting exclusives/hard to finds direct from Lego when there's a gift with purchase or something.

    Normal sets are just way too overpriced, especially when you know that Amazon/Argos will discount them up to 30% (sometimes 40%!) not too long after.
    omniumSparkyHamgmonkey76
  • omniumomnium Member Posts: 831
    Same here, @Mr_Hobbles. Was was originally intending to buy all the Harry Potter sets at the LEGO store today. But the Argos 3for2 promo made me think again.
  • Baby_YodaBaby_Yoda Member Posts: 1,295
    This happened to me in February. I bought #21313 as soon as it appeared on the website. Never again...
  • FauchFauch Member Posts: 2,711
    a good strategy seems to wait for deep discounts, buy a lot, and then you have a lot to build until new sets get discounted that much as well.
    Bumblepants
  • Baby_YodaBaby_Yoda Member Posts: 1,295
    Fauch said:
    a good strategy seems to [be] buy a lot
    Much better.
    gmonkey76
  • AleyditaAleydita Member Posts: 955
    SparkyHam said:
    Like many others here, I was excited about the two new Batman sets (76110 and 76111) that were released in the U.K. on August 1st, and promptly ordered them online that very day.

    Imagine my surprise then, to see them on Amazon.uk, yesterday (Aug 3rd), reduced by 27% each.

    I appreciate that Lego products are cheaper elsewhere (not a problem), but I am surprised that this has happened within just 3 days of the sets being released in the UK. Is this a common occurrence?

    I certainly don't mind paying full-price from the Lego Store for brand new sets, particularly as I am paying for the privilege of getting the sets early, and I want to support Lego (yay!). But seeing this significant discount within just 3 days has removed all the joy of '1st day purchase', and quite honestly, leaves me feeling let down as a LEGO VIP member. To rub salt into the wound, I am still waiting for my orders to arrive in the post, but if I order from Amazon today, they will arrive by Prime tomorrow, 27% cheaper! 

    Just to clarify, I am not bitter about paying full retail price for Lego, my issue is with the 3rd party price-drop happening within such close proximity to the actual release of the sets from Lego. I also acknowledge that this is out of Lego's control, but wanted to ask about here anyway

    Thoughts on this? Is it worth complaining/returning-the-sets to Lego?
    You're in the UK - return the sets at Lego's expense and order from Amazon.
  • dmcc0dmcc0 Member Posts: 778
    edited August 2018
    ^pretty sure the customer has to cover the cost of the return in the UK, although is entitled to a refund on the original postage cost. (Not sure if Lego offer free returns or not though)  Could work out pretty expensive to return boxed LEGO sets.
  • SparkyHamSparkyHam Member Posts: 141
    SumoLego said:
    nwr122 said:
    Not sure what complaining will achieve?
    I'm pretty sure complaining is 97% of why the internet exists.
    Lets call it 'constructive feedback' then : )

    Anyhow, a pleasant development. I sent a message to Lego via their website (seeing as they're always asking for feedback) and received a positive response. In short:
    • An apology for my disappointment and a big thank you for the feedback;
    • An explanation about Lego Store pricing and not being in control of individual sellers (like Amazon);
    • A mention of Promotional Sets being a plus-point for buying from Lego directly;
    • A offer of some VIP points as a gesture, so that I might save on a future order : )
    So there it is. Am I satisfied with Lego's response? Yes, and pleasantly so. Have I learnt my lesson about 1st day purchases and 2nd day blues? Most certainly. Do I still want to buy from the Lego Store over other stores? Yeah, I think so.

    Thanks for all the thoughts posted above. Nice to know others share in the "ah bugg3r" moments too, for which my wife (as lovely as she is), never has sympathy for!
    bandit778snowhitieAyliffeSeanTheCollectornwr122catwranglerricecake
  • AleyditaAleydita Member Posts: 955
    dmcc0 said:
    ^pretty sure the customer has to cover the cost of the return in the UK, although is entitled to a refund on the original postage cost. (Not sure if Lego offer free returns or not though)  Could work out pretty expensive to return boxed LEGO sets.
    In the EU, a consumer can return goods bought at distance for any reason for a full refund including the cost of original shipping. The cost of return shipping must also be borne by the retailer unless their terms of sale explicitly say the cost is borne by the consumer. Additionally, the retailer must pay if they require shipping by a certain method or carrier, if they did not supply a complete order and/or provided substitutions that the consumer does not wish to accept, or if any of the goods are faulty or damaged.

    I've never paid to return to Lego Belgium but Lego UK may have such a term.
  • drdavewatforddrdavewatford Administrator Posts: 6,756
    edited August 2018
    I think it's great that some AFOLs are so excited about new non-exclusive sets that they aren't capable of waiting for the guaranteed discounts - it's a long time since I was so desperate for a particular set that I couldn't wait!

    Reality is that many of us already have extensive build queues stuffed with wonderful sets so there's absolutely no point rushing out on launch day to buy something else at full price that we'll be able to get at 30% or more off RRP sooner or later; sometimes "sooner or later" means immediately in the recent case of the Argos 3-for-2 or 27% Amazon discounts on 2018 summer Technic which were available on launch day.
    Bumblepantsgmonkey76snowhitiecatwranglersid3windr
  • milambermilamber Member Posts: 637
    Glad I waited a few days for the HP sets. I was tempted by the double VIP points, but after someone mentioned the Argos 3 for 2 on here I waited. Even better when Amazon messed up with the double discount yesterday. 5 days after launch #75954 had 37% off, #75955 was 37.7% off, #75952 was 51.5% off and even picked up #70653 to make up the numbers at 49.2% discount. Crazy
  • bmwlegobmwlego Member Posts: 820
    Glad LEGO responded to your email @SparkyHam and that you got some VIP points for feedback. 
    Depending on the difference in price, I'd still return the sets to LEGO though!
  • BrainsluggedBrainslugged Member Posts: 2,278
    It was kinda unbelievable and unexpected that Argos included the new HP and SW wars sets in their 3 for 2. Even more surprising that Amazon was almost matching the pro rated prices, then offering it's OWN 3 for 2. Crazy days!
  • 560Heliport560Heliport Member Posts: 4,266
    I just had to have #75218 right away! Last Monday, I found it at the 7th Target I checked. But then I got home late, worked late the next two nights, and didn't build it until Thursday. I saw it Wednesday at the LEGO store (5% back in VIP points) and Barnes & Noble (10% off with membership), but I had paid RRP at Target to get it sooner. Stupid me.
  • AstrobricksAstrobricks Member Posts: 5,564
    ^ It’s at every target now. You could also have saved a lot in gas!
  • 560Heliport560Heliport Member Posts: 4,266

    I really, really wanted new LEGO to compensate for the way my job was going to be last week... I actually only used an extra gallon of gas; I just went to the Targets that are (sort of) on my way home. But yeah, financially it made no sense at all.

    Astrobricks
  • ShibShib Member Posts: 5,477
    Potentially contraversial opinion, but I have no sympathy for buying and getting annoyed finding it cheaper elsewhere. No one forced you to buy, and making the decision to hand over cash must have meant you thought the price was fair.

    I dislike the practice of returning stuff because you've seen a cheaper price after buying it, it seems a dishonest practice to me personally. 
    madforLEGO560HeliportBumblepantsbandit778LostInTranslationBaby_YodadrdavewatfordPaperballparksnowhitie
  • SparkyHamSparkyHam Member Posts: 141
    edited August 2018
    Shib said:
    Potentially contraversial opinion, but I have no sympathy for buying and getting annoyed finding it cheaper elsewhere. No one forced you to buy, and making the decision to hand over cash must have meant you thought the price was fair.

    I dislike the practice of returning stuff because you've seen a cheaper price after buying it, it seems a dishonest practice to me personally. 
    Not controversial at all, in fact I think all your points are completely on-point, and I couldn't agree with you more.

    I certainly felt it was a fair-price at the time of purchase, and I have no problem with the principle of caveat emptor, buyer-beware. I also think returning stuff just because you've seen cheaper prices after buying is dishonest too. I'm completely with you in all that you've said.

    The only distinction I would make in my particular case, is that I bought the sets from the Lego Store based upon 'good will.' From my understanding of having studied law, this is something generated between a retailer and consumer, usually at the retailers instigation and for mutual benefit. In other words, having signed up as a VIP member, and availing myself to their communications, I am providing them more business, as well as reaping particular rewards, like discounts and promotions. I would argue (based upon good-will) that I had a right to be disappointed by what happened in this particular circumstance, i.e. the kick-back from the Argos 3-for-2 offer, impacting Amazon, etc.

    I understand how that might sound like justification, but that's why this side of law falls under the heading of 'equity' as opposed to 'legal'... because it's trying to discern what is equitable in the circumstances and not strictly legal.

    As for myself, whilst I originally intended to return one of the sets, I held onto it and simply wrote to LEGO, who as detailed above, offered an equitable solution, leaving us both happy and with a 'good will' relationship still intact. Good resolution in my books.

    But yes, in general, I agree with @Shib and admire his/her personal integrity.
  • 560Heliport560Heliport Member Posts: 4,266
    I agree! I would never return something because I found it cheaper elsewhere. I do think it's reasonable to feel annoyed at finding it cheaper- but wrong to return it. The store could have sold it to someone else, maybe someone who doesn't have easy access to the cheaper store.   
    SeanTheCollectorBaby_Yoda
  • pharmjodpharmjod Member Posts: 2,916
    Retuning something because you found it cheaper may be a lot of things, but dishonest isn't one of them. If a store has a return policy and you follow it, you are just playing by the rules. 
    Jern92gmonkey76tomahawkerAstrobricks
  • MrJacksonMrJackson Member Posts: 454
    I've seen it backfire. When the Helicarrier went on sale Black Friday, we had a guy come in and return it in order to re-buy it at the new markdown. Ok, fine, nothin says you can't.  However, he used quite a big VIP redemption, and those points don't come back with a returned item - once they're redeemed, they're gone. Needless to say, he was none too pleased when he came back again on Cyber Monday when it was marked down further and tried to return the Helicarrier again and I told him that's fine, but if you return it and re-buy it you'll actually lose money because your points redemption knocked it below the CM discount price and he would pay more when he re-bought it yet again. 
    Jern92Astrobricks
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    To me; there's nothing wrong with returning an item for whatever reason...even for spite; although, some establishments in NY won't let you return an item for spite ;)

    The question is if a promotional item is involved or not? If buy an item and then decide to return it; should you return the promotional item? I like to stir the pot.
    pharmjod
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,836
    I guess it all matters to how someone sees a return policy. Return policies always meant to me one of two things:
    -You got it as a gift, but did not want that item.
    -Something is wrong with the item.
    'The price is too high even though I agreed to pay that amount' is not one of those and I think abuses a good faith policy of the store. Fairly sure most stores feel the same with their policies; I could be wrong. Then again you have stores that do allow complaints of their item at a higher price, its specifically called 'price matching' but is not a return policy (to me anyway).

    Plus, like anything else, abuse it enough and you will likely find you can no longer do it.
    Shibsnowhitie
  • ryjayryjay Member Posts: 1,004
    ^ I've always felt that same thing about returning....I never would return unless broken or defective.  Plus i would never take something back if i lost the receipt...not my wife, she'll take it back to the store with or without the receipt....not even sure how that works, lol.  But I don't think stores today look at it that way at all anymore.  I'm sure many stores believe a liberal "no questions asked" return policy gets you to buy more often and more freely. 

     Heck, a lot of mail order shipment have a return label pre-printed inside the box making it easy to return.  After all, if you had to go print out a return label on your own,  i'm sure many of us would say, "ah, forget it, i'll just keep it".  Not to mention stores often give us 30 days to decide if we want to keep the item or not....sometimes longer.  They wouldn't be doing that if they didn't think it was good for business.

    Today I took back 3-1/2" door hinges because after i opened the package i realized i needed 4" hinges.   I felt bad because i tore the package open...the clerk was all no problem "go get the correct ones, we'll repackage"



    sid3windrAstrobricks
  • MrJacksonMrJackson Member Posts: 454
    @Pitfall69 Lego's policy was that if you had a return and there was a Gift With Purchase that was not returned, the value of the GWP was deducted from what you would get back. GWPs scan in at a dollar value. We stopped taking returns on items without a receipt a long time ago and would only do an even exchange (simultaneously nullifying resellers who would buy sets for GWPs only to return them and get their money back with a now-free GWP); right after I left Lego I believe they were updating their return policy to require a receipt/gift receipt or no return/exchange would be done at all. So the GWP has become less of an issue.
  • Baby_YodaBaby_Yoda Member Posts: 1,295
    pharmjod said:
    Retuning something because you found it cheaper may be a lot of things, but dishonest isn't one of them. If a store has a return policy and you follow it, you are just playing by the rules. 
    True, but you don't need to break the law in order to still be an ass. Lenient return policies exist because the store wants to look nice and consumer-friendly. They don't actually want people returning everything they buy simply because they changed their mind.
    sid3windr
  • pharmjodpharmjod Member Posts: 2,916
    I never said they want people returning anything. I said they have a policy in place and if you are within the parameters of the policy it's not dishonest. Period. It's also not necessarily being an ass. Good grief people. 
    77ncaachampsAstrobricks
  • datsunrobbiedatsunrobbie Member Posts: 1,831
    ^Buying a box of minifigures so you can sift through them at home and return the ones you don't want may not violate return policy, but it certainly abuses it. If I were a retailer, there would be a "no refunds, exchange for same items only" policy for blind-bag merchandise. You can bring back 20 bags, but all you can get back is bags from the same series.
    560Heliportcatwrangler
  • omniumomnium Member Posts: 831
    I've never done it, but I don't see the problem. I buy shoes online, try them on at home and return them if I don't like them. I don't see the difference, really.
  • FauchFauch Member Posts: 2,711
    I don't get it, here they just print a piece of paper with the value of the items you returned, so the only way to get the value of your money back is to use that paper to buy again in their shop.
  • ReesesPiecesReesesPieces Member Posts: 1,131
    The stores that have such flexible policies do so because it makes business sense.  The money they bring in due to the extra sales and customers such return policies bring in outweighs the loss from the returns.  If they didn't (more money was lost due to returns than brought in by the lenient return policies) said stores wouldn't have such return and price matching policies.  Also, if I remember correctly from my business classes eons ago, they said it is cheaper to maintain current customers than bring in new ones.  Having lenient return policies make it easier to keep current customers shop worry free.  In the end, it all comes down to business sense.  Remember, Walmart stopped price matching other stores because it did not make business sense to them.

    Also, the morality of reason for returns will definitely vary as we all grew up with varied morals from our individual households.  With that said, there will always be people to definitely take advantage and even cheat the system like anywhere in life.
    omniumpharmjodgmonkey76Baby_Yoda
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    ^I think in previous "morality" arguments about returning CMF's; it was more about not allowing other patrons to have a chance at feeling/buying their own CMF's, than returning the ones they didn't want.
    ReesesPiecesBaby_Yodacatwrangler
  • ReesesPiecesReesesPieces Member Posts: 1,131
    ^I agree that that is a jerk move.  I meant how people felt about returning because of adjusted price.  Some people might have grown up in a home where every penny mattered.
  • BumblepantsBumblepants Member Posts: 7,729
    edited August 2018
    I remember waiting in line at the return desk at Walmart behind a lady returning 15 lawn chairs the morning of July 5th. She clearly had bought them for a July fourth party, used them, and tried to pack them back up in the packing like they were still new. In spite of the dishonesty it was difficult not to admire the dedication to her charade. She got away with it too.
    Baby_YodacatwranglerPolyphemus
  • Baby_YodaBaby_Yoda Member Posts: 1,295
    Pitfall69 said:
    ^I think in previous "morality" arguments about returning CMF's; it was more about not allowing other patrons to have a chance at feeling/buying their own CMF's, than returning the ones they didn't want.
    Thank you - this is what I was referring to in particular, and my apologies for not being clearer. Following @omnium's analogy about trying on shoes: taking a box home just to get a complete set, especially when there are figures like Percival Graves and the Classic Policeman involved, is more like buying a pair of shoes that you already know you don't want, pulling out the laces (which you quite fancy), and returning the lace-less shoes to the store for a deducted refund. It's unethical (in my opinion) to purchase a product with the intention of later returning it.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    Bumblepants said:
    I remember waiting in line at the return desk at Walmart behind a lady returning 15 lawn chairs the morning of July 5th. She clearly had bought them for a July fourth party, used them, and tried to pack them back up in the packing like they were still new. In spite of the dishonesty it was difficult not to admire the dedication to her charade. She got away with it too.
    I know that many stores started implementing a restocking fee for large TV's that were bought for Super Bowl parties with the intention on returning them right after.
    77ncaachamps
  • catwranglercatwrangler Member Posts: 1,895
    I feel naive; I had no idea people did stuff like that so much! I mean, I'd heard it discussed re: Lego before, but huge things like TVs and lawn chair sets? Apart from the morality, they must really have to think the money saved is worth the hassle of lugging the things around!
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